I don't own Merlin sadly, it belongs to the BBC.
This is a request from Kenya1234 and is therefore dedicated to them. I want to thank them for giving me this chance to write this as I have really enjoyed writing it. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. :D
Summary: In return for helping Gwen, she introduces Merlin to the rest of the gang. While it is love at first sight for Merlin, Arthur is a closed shell. Can Merlin break down the wall Arthur has built around his heart and get into where Arthur is determined no one will ever get to?
This story is the longest I have ever done it has 38 chapters.
Warnings: Malexmale. Ygraine alive, Uther nice lol. AU.
I apologise in advance for any mistakes
Three days later Merlin was in his apartment sorting out all of his friends presents, all of them had been wrapped, after what had happened the other day thanking Arthur for the distraction he knew it was best to finish wrapping the Christmas gifts at home. He sorted them all out and sat down on his settee.
He leaned forwards and picked up the small box that was Arthur's Christmas present and opened it smiling at the silver ring that was nestled in the soft cushion. He jumped and almost dropped it when he heard a squeal. Looking up he saw an excited Freya stood there with Mordred who had his hands over his ears.
"Will it be a double wedding with Morgana and Leon?" she asked.
Merlin looked from his friend to the ring and then back again, his eyes wide when he realised what Freya meant. "Oh no no no. This isn't an engagement ring Freya."
Mordred left his wife standing there and walked over to Merlin and picked it up. "You have gotten Arthur a promise ring?"
"I have. This ring will show Arthur how much I love him and how committed I am to him and shows that no matter what he will never lose me as I never plan on letting him go."
"Aw that's sweet." Freya said as she came and joined both Merlin and Mordred on the settee.
"I think so. I want to show Arthur how much I love him and how serious I am about us both and that I see my future with him." Merlin took the ring back off Mordred and put it back in the small box. "When I said come over I have your gifts I didn't mean straight away and let yourselves in."
"This is Freya you are talking to mate; she has been hanging around with Morgana, Gwen and Elena too much." Mordred said.
"Speaking of Morgana I saw her doing some Christmas shopping yesterday but she kept looking over her shoulder and hiding, when I watched her more closely I was shocked to find out who she was hiding from."
"Ygraine?" Merlin asked.
"Yes." Freya answered. "Is she still getting on at Morgana about the wedding?"
"She is, but I think Ygraine only wants to help, Morgana is her only daughter after all."
"I ought to tell her she is lucky to have a mum who wants to help plan her wedding." Freya said, sadness in her voice, losing her mum at the age of sixteen had broken Freya and it was only thanks to Merlin, Mordred and Will that she had moved on. Never knowing her dad it was Merlin who walked her down the aisle to Mordred.
Merlin put his arm around her and kissed the side of her head. "You won't say anything to anyone about what I have got Arthur will you?"
"Of course we won't." Freya said. "What are you doing for Christmas?"
"Well me, mum, dad, gran and granddad have been invited to Arthur's parents for dinner."
"Are you going?" Mordred asked.
"Of course I am, I told mum and dad and they said yes and so have gran and granddad."
Mordred laughed. "That should be fun."
"What about Christmas morning?" Freya asked.
"What about it?"
"Where are you spending it, here or at Arthur's?"
Merlin laughed. "I don't know yet. I would like to wake up Christmas morning with Arthur but I am not sure."
Merlin was rushing around, Arthur had rang him half hour ago telling him to pack a bag enough for a week he had been rushing around going through his clothes his clean ones and his dirty ones, ones that needed ironing, a few that did need ironing he decided he would iron them when he got to where he was supposed to be going, he had just finished when the doorbell rang.
Opening the door he saw Arthur stood there, smirk on his face. "Hello love. You ready?"
"What for? You just told me to pack for a week and that was it."
"Christmas is in two days." Arthur said as he walked into the flat.
"I know."
"Besides dinner at my parents do you have anything planned?" he asked as he wrapped his arms around the brunet's waist.
"No."
"Want to spend the week with me?" Arthur asked, kissing Merlin softly. "Maybe a little longer?" another kiss. "Come back after new year?" another kiss.
Merlin smiled and wrapped his arms around the blond. "I'd love to, let me just get your present. I dropped off everyone else's, well I either dropped them off or they came to pick them up." Merlin kissed Arthur again before letting go and walking into his bedroom.
Arthur smiled and picked up Merlin's bag which was filled with clothes. "You haven't packed any toiletries have you Merlin?" he called out.
"No not yet, why?"
Arthur cleared his throat, nervous with his answer. "Because all that you use is in a cabinet in the bathroom back at my place." Arthur looked up when he saw Merlin slowly walk from his room, looking closely at Arthur who took a deep breath.
"Why are you so nervous?" he asked quietly as he walked over to the blond, he placed his hands on his face. "There is no need to be. I love that and I love you more for thinking of me and loving me to do that, you are making room in your house for me and I love that, I have wanted to do that here for you but didn't want to say anything in case you didn't want it."
Arthur looked Merlin in the eye for a full minute before... "Can I have a drawer in your room?"
Merlin laughed. "Of course you can. When I come back home next year how about you bring some of the things you want to keep over here."
"Sounds great, thank you. Are you ready to go?"
"Yes I have your present."
Arthur stood back and looked his boyfriend up and down. "Where?" he asked when he saw Merlin was holding nothing.
Merlin laughed. "Size isn't everything."
"I know that."
"You have a filthy mind Arthur." Merlin chuckled when he saw his boyfriend smirk.
Arthur laughed. "Let's get going shall we."
Merlin and Arthur had just walked outside where they almost bumped into Ygraine. "Mum? What are you doing here?"
"Leon told me that Morgana would be discussing some plans with Gwen so I have come to interrupt."
Merlin laughed. "How are you going to explain you being here?"
"I am going to tell her I came here to talk to you about the Christmas dinner and saw her car out front so guessed she would be with Gwen." Ygraine looked down at the bag in Arthur's hands. "What's that?"
"Merlin's clothes, I have asked him to spend Christmas with me, he is coming back here after New Year."
"Aw, well have a great time the both of you." When Arthur and Merlin got in the car and drove away Ygraine got her phone out.
"Hello?"
"Uther I have just seen our son and Merlin get into a car and drive off."
"And you sound excited by this why?"
"They were outside Merlin's building, Arthur had a bag of Merlin's clothes our son has invited Merlin to stay with him over Christmas staying until next year." she all but screeched.
Uther knowing what was about to happen held the phone away from his ear, sighing at the squeal he heard. "Ygraine love can we talk about this when you get home my idiot of an assistant hasn't done his job proper, the idiot is always like this around Christmas, he gets that excited he forgets half of what he is told and now I have to go into the office even though I was determined not to go back until next year."
"I like Matthew, such a nice boy."
"That is it, when it comes to this time of year he is a boy, nothing like the thirty five year old man he is! I will see you soon love."
Uther pulled into his parking space at work and walked inside, hoping Matthew wasn't in, he told the man to go home. "Oh no." he said when the lift doors opened and the corridor leading to his office was ladened with decorations there was tinsel draped on the walls, decorations hanging down from the ceiling.
"What is this?" he snapped making some of his workers who were laughing and talking while putting decorations up jump.
"Matthew said we could put them up, said you said it would be okay." one woman said.
"Oh did he?" Uther said as he walked down the corridor pulling things from the walls, "get these down you finish tomorrow not back until next year it is pointless." he called out as he quickly strode to his office.
He opened the door and saw Matthew his assistant reaching up as he pinned something on the wall. "What the bloody hell are you doing?"
Matthew jumped. "Mr Pendragon sir. I was just decorating."
"I can see that." Uther said as he walked over to his assistant and pulled down the flashy decoration that Matthew had just put up. "I said no decorations."
"I know but it's Christmas sir."
"Listen Matthew if I wanted something pointless hanging in my office I would have used you."
Matthew laughed. "Your snarky wit Sir, you will kill me one of these days."
"That is the plan."
"I thought you had finished sir."
"I had but you being you around this time of year have forgotten half of the things I have asked of you so have come in to get them myself. Get all these decorations down Matthew." Uther said as he started to go through some of his paperwork, looking for what he needed.
Ten minutes later Uther left his office and saw all the workers just standing there watching him, sighing he reached into his jacket pocket and took the money clip off his money and unfolded it, placing the notes down on the table he looked up. "I am not a total scrooge you know. Go and get pissed in the nearest pub and celebrate not coming back here until the New Year."
Matthew picked up the money and hugged Uther, kissing him on the cheek. "Thanks boss." he said as he and the others rushed to the lift doors.
"Matthew! Don't you ever do that again."
"Sorry sir." Matthew called out as the lift doors closed.
Arthur unlocked his door and Merlin walked in and stood waiting for Arthur who shut the door and took off his shoes and coat, Merlin following his movements. "Right then let me show you." he said and led Merlin upstairs.
Arthur had led Merlin into his room where he showed him two empty drawers and room in the wardrobe in case Merlin wanted to hang any of his clothes up, taking Merlin's hand Arthur then took him into the bathroom where Merlin saw the single cabinet that was on the wall was replaced by a double one.
Arthur opened one side to show Merlin things that he used and opening the other side Arthur smiled. "This is your side, I know all you have your gel, shower gel, aftershave, cologne, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste. Everything. It is all there."
Merlin smiled and kissed Arthur. "When did you do all of this?"
"Last week, just been trying to tell you and show you."
"I love it. I have things here now, my things, it means when I stop over I haven't got to leave really early in order to get ready to go to work as some of my things and clothes will be here." Merlin said as he kissed his boyfriend.
When Merlin had unpacked all of his things he walked downstairs and into the living room and placed the present he had gotten Arthur under the tree, placing it on down he picked up the other small present he saw there and turned the label over and smiled at what he read. 'To Merlin, Merry Christmas, all my love, Arthur xxx.'
Merlin smiled and not being able to resist he lifted the present up to his ear and shook it.
"Good job it isn't breakable." Arthur said, laughing when he made Merlin jump who ended up juggling the present to stop it from falling, he quickly placed it back under the tree.
"I was just curious. You haven't got the same thing I have got you have you because it sounds the same when you shake it."
Arthur walked forwards. "Well I don't know, what is it you have gotten me?"
"I got you a-" Merlin stopped. "Nearly."
Arthur laughed. "Want to go and get a few drinks?"
"Yeah okay."
What do you think?
Chapter Thirty Seven up tomorrow :D
Review? x